Well production enhancing device

ABSTRACT

A device insertable into a cased well consisting of an elastic tube, a pipe having an inner bore, the pipe extending through the elastic tube, the elastic tube annularly surrounding an expansion space; tube clamps capable of fixedly attaching the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube to the outer surface of the pipe; and fluid transfer apertures capable of carrying fluids from the inner bore of the pipe to the expansion space, the fluid transfer apertures interconnecting the expansion space and the inner bore of the pipe so that, upon extension of the device into the cased well, and upon introduction of a pressurized water into the inner bore of the pipe, the water may flow from the inner bore of the pipe into the expansion space, causing the outer surface of the elastic tube to expand radially outward into is contact with the well&#39;s casing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to mechanisms and apparatus applicable towater wells and water pumps installed therein. In particular, thisinvention relates such apparatus applicable to cased water wells havinginstalled therein a submersible centrifugal pump or line shaft impellerpumps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Two common types of pumps utilized within agricultural irrigationwells are line shaft impeller pumps and submersible electric motordriven centrifugal pumps. Such pumps operate through transmission ofkinetic energy from their spinning blades to water which comes intocontact with the blades. Water which comes into contact with thespinning impeller blades of an impeller pump is accelerated in thedirection of the axis of rotation of the blades. Water flowing withinchannels formed by the spinning vanes of a centrifugal pump is outwardlycentrifugally accelerated. In both cases, work performed upon the waterby the vanes or blades, as the case may be, lifts the water from asubterranean level through the bore of the well to ground level.Typically, the blades of an impeller pump or the vanes of a centrifugalpump installed within a water irrigation well perform no function otherthan driving water upwardly through the well.

[0003] The instant inventive device enhances the function of suchimpeller or centrifugal pumps installed within water wells, allowingsuch pumps perform at least two functions in addition to the waterlifting function; such additional functions including: (1) inflation ofan inflatable well packer; (2) creating a pressure differential orvacuum effect at the water inlet ports of the well without drawing downthe water level within the well. Through use of the instant inventivedevice, a pump within an irrigation well becomes capable ofsimultaneously lifting water, inflating a well packer, and creating avacuum at the well's water inlet ports, enhancing the water productioncapacity of the well.

PRIOR ART PATENTS

[0004] The following U.S. Patents disclose or relate to well packers orwell packing methods:

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,533 issued Jun. 19, 1962, to Lacy disclosesan artisan well control device.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 672,475 issued Apr. 23, 1901 to Cavallaro disclosesan expandable packing attachment for artisan wells.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,853 issued Feb. 28, 1995, to Toon discloses aplugging system for bore holes utilizing expansible packers.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,485 issued Jul. 13, 1993, to Dobschadiscloses a process for utilizing packers for isolating zones inmultiple zone wells.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,626 issued Nov. 27, 1984, to Kerfootdiscloses a pneumatic packer.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,045 issued Feb. 3, 1970, to Bassani disclosesa fluid pressurized packer.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,785 issued Jul. 16, 1968, to King discloses aretractable mechanical packer.

[0012] None of the above disclosed U.S. Patents discloses or teaches thenovel, inventive and useful attributes and aspects of the presentinventive well production enhancing device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the instant inventive well productionenhancing device comprises a section of irrigation well column pipe,such section serving as the major structural support of the device. Apair of circular apertures are cut or drilled through the side wall ofthe column pipe, so that the apertures extend from the column pipe'souter radial surface to its interior bore. Preferably, the apertures arespaced apart along the length of the column pipe so that one aperturemay serve as an upper air bleeding aperture, and the other aperture mayserve as a lower water inlet aperture.

[0014] Preferably, an upper flange ring is slidably mounted over andwelded upon the outer surface of the column pipe at an elevationimmediately above the upper aperture. The upper flange ring preferablyhas an annular inwardly facing surface which is closely fitted formounting over the outside diameter of the column pipe. Also, preferably,the upper flange ring is welded to the column pipe to form an occlusiveseal at the annular joint.

[0015] Preferably, the upper flange ring has at least three annularsurfaces in addition to its inwardly facing surface; such surfaces beingan upwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, and adownwardly facing surface. Preferably, the upwardly facing surface ofthe upper flange ring has eight upwardly opening spirally threadedapertures which are evenly spaced therearound; preferably, the outwardlyfacing surface extends conically outward and downward from the level ofthe upwardly facing surface to form an outwardly facing tube clampingsurface; and preferably, the entire flange ring is positioned upon thecolumn pipe so that its downwardly facing surface ring lies immediatelyabove the column pipe section's air bleeding aperture.

[0016] A lower flange ring is similarly fixedly attached to the columnpipe immediately below the lower water inlet aperture, the lower flangering preferably being a mirror image of the upper flange ring.

[0017] The section of column pipe having such upper and lower flangerings occlusively welded thereto is preferably extended through anelastic tube, the elastic tube preferably being fitted so that itsinside diameter approximately equals the outside diameters of the upperand lower flange rings and so that the elastic tube spans between theupwardly facing surface of the upper flange ring and the downwardlyfacing surface of the lower flange ring. Preferably, the elastic tube iscomposed of either vulcanized or synthetic rubber and is capable ofelastically stretching and contracting.

[0018] Upon such positioning of the elastic tube over the flange rings,an upper clamp ring is preferably bolted in place over the upper flangering, the upper clamp ring functioning to press the upper end of theelastic tube against the outwardly facing tube clamping surface of theupper flange ring, forming an upper annular occlusive seal. Preferably,the upper clamp ring has at least three surfaces, they being an upwardlyfacing surface, a downwardly facing surface, and an inwardly facing tubeclamping surface. Also, preferably, the upper clamp ring has a series ofeight bolt receiving apertures therethrough, each extending from thering's upwardly facing surface to its downwardly facing surface, suchapertures being positioned so that they may be aligned to register withthe threaded bolt receiving apertures of the upper flange ring. Also,preferably, the inwardly facing tube clamping surface of the upper clampring extends conically outward and downward at an angle matching theoutwardly facing tube clamping surface of the upper flange ring,allowing the upper end of the elastic tube to be evenly pressed betweenthe two tube clamping surfaces to form an occlusive seal.

[0019] Upon placement of the upper clamp ring over the upper end of theelastic tube and over the upper flange ring, the bolt receivingapertures of the upper clamp ring are aligned with the threaded boltreceiving apertures of the upper flange ring. Threaded bolts are thenextended through said bolt receiving apertures, and the bolts arethreadedly mounted within the threaded bolt receiving apertures. Uponinstallation of eight bolts within their respective apertures, suchbolts are tightened, causing the upper clamp ring to move downwardlytoward the upper flange ring, and causing the tube clamping surfaces ofthe upper clamp ring and the upper flange ring to annularly pressagainst the inner and outer surfaces of the end of the elastic tube;such pressure forming an upper occlusive seal.

[0020] A lower clamp ring, preferably a mirror image of the upper clampring, is similarly attached over the lower end of the elastic tube andover the lower flange ring, forming a lower occlusive seal. The annularspace between the column pipe and the elastic tube serves as anexpansion space for hydraulic outward stretching the elastic tube.

[0021] The column pipe section of the instant inventive devicepreferably comprises a single joint within a column pipe string which isextended downwardly through the casing of a water irrigation well.Preferably, the device is selectively placed within the column pipestring so that the elastic tube becomes completely submerged below thewater table level of the well. Upon immersion of the apparatus, airwithin the annular expansion space between the outer surface of thecolumn pipe and the inner surface of the elastic tube will bleedinwardly into the bore of the column pipe through the upper air bleedingaperture. As the air within the expansion space flows into the columnpipe, water flows into the expansion space through the lower water inletaperture. The air and water exchange continues until the expansion spaceis completely filled with water. Upon filling of the expansion spacewith water, the device is ready for use.

[0022] In operation of the present inventive device, a line shaftimpeller pump or electrical submersible centrifugal pump installed uponthe lower end of the column pipe is activated, causing pressurized waterto be driven upwardly through the column pipe. A portion of thepressurized water emits laterally through the upper and lower apertures,flowing into the annular expansion space between the outer surface ofthe column pipe and the inner surface of the elastic tube. The flow ofwater into the expansion space causes the elastic tube to expandoutwardly causing its outer surface to come into pressurized contactwith the inwardly facing surface of the well's casing. Such pressurizedcontact forms an occlusive seal between those surfaces.

[0023] In the absence of such occlusive seal between the column pipe andcasing of an irrigation well, water flow within the column pipe whichexceeds the flow of water into the foot of the well from the water tableundesirably draws down the water level within the well. The occlusiveseal between the outer surface of the elastic tube of the instantinventive device and the casing of a well in which it is installedprevents such draw down effect from occurring, creating a vacuum orpressure differential at the water inlets of the well. Thus, the instantinventive device allows an impeller pump or a centrifugal pump tosimultaneously drive water upward within the column pipe, to create anocclusive seal between the column pipe and the well's casing, and tocause la vacuum effect at the well's water inlet ports. The threeeffects, in combination, enhance the performance of the irrigation well.

[0024] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea device for enhancing the performance of a water well whichsimultaneously allows the well's impeller pump or centrifugal pump tolift water within the water well, to create an occlusive seal betweenthe well's column pipe and its casing, and to create a vacuum effect fordrawing an additional volume of water into the well from the watertable.

[0025] It is further object of the present invention to provide such adevice which is simply an economically constructed through utilizationof an elastic tube spanning between and interconnecting upper and lowerflange rings and upper and lower clamp rings.

[0026] Other and further objects, benefits and advantages of the presentinventive device for enhancing the performance of a water well willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the DetailedDescription which follows and upon review of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present inventive wellproduction enhancing device, the view showing the device, uninflated,and installed within the casing of water irrigation well.

[0028]FIG. 2 is identical to the view of FIG. 1, with the exception thatthe well production enhancing device is shown in its inflatedconfiguration.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the device depicted in FIG. 1.

[0030]FIG. 4 is a magnified detail of the upper end of the devicedepicted in FIG. 3.

[0031]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the device installed within a wellwithin the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Drawing FIG.1, the present inventive well production enhancing device is referred togenerally as Drawing Element 1. The device 1 is depicted installedwithin the steel casing 2 of a water irrigation well. The majorstructural support element of the device 1 is a section of waterirrigation well column pipe 4, the column pipe section 4 extending thefull length of the device 1. As depicted in FIG. 1, an impeller shaft 6extends through the bore 28 of the column pipe 4. The device 1 isequally utilizable within water irrigation wells which have installedtherein a submersible centrifugal pump instead of a shaft drivenimpeller pump.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, a fitted upper flange ring 8 and a fittedlower flange ring 10 are slidably positioned over the column pipe 4, andare welded thereto, the welds forming occlusive seals at the juncturesbetween the column pipe 4 and the inwardly facing surfaces of the flangerings 8 and 10. Referring simultaneously to Drawing FIGS. 1 and 3, anupper clamp ring 12 and a lower clamp ring 14 are respectively bolted tothe upper flange ring 8 and the lower flange ring 10 by threaded bolts16, the threaded bolts 16 extending through apertures extendingvertically through the upper and lower clamp rings 12 and 14, the bolts16 being threadedly mounted within threaded apertures within the upperand lower flange rings 8 and 10.

[0034] Further referring simultaneously to Drawing FIGS. 1 and 3, anelastic tube 18, preferably composed of either synthetic rubber orvulcanized natural rubber, is mounted over the column pipe 4, theelastic tube 18 being positioned so that its upper and lower ends extendbetween, referring to FIG. 4, tube clamping surfaces 20, of the upperand lower flange rings 8 and 10, and of the upper and lower clamp rings12 and 14.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, the threaded bolts 16 are tightened, causingthe upper clamp ring 12 to move downwardly and causing the lower clampring 14 to move upwardly, pressing the upper and lower ends of theelastic tube 18 against the upper and lower flange rings 8 and 10,forming upper and lower occlusive seals.

[0036] Referring further to FIG. 3, the bore of the elastic tube 18 isbounded radially inward by the column pipe 4, and is bounded in theupward and downward directions by the upper and lower flange rings 8 and10 to form an annular expansion space 22 which surrounds the column pipe4. An upper air bleeding aperture 24 and a lower water inlet aperture 26allow free passage of air from the annular expansion space 22 into theinterior bore 28 of the column pipe 4. The lower water inlet aperture 26allows water to flow from the interior bore 28 of the column pipe 4 intothe expansion space 22 while air bleeds out of the upper air bleedingaperture 24.

[0037] In operation of the well production enhancing device 1, referringto FIG. 5, such device is installed as a part of a threadedly linkedcolumn pipe string 30, such string being extended downwardly through thecasing 2 of a water irrigation well. Preferably, the device 1 ispositioned within the column pipe string 30 so that it is completelysubmerged below the upper level 32 of the water table 34. Water from thewater table 34 flows through water inlet ports 36 at the lower end ofthe casing 2 to pass upwardly through the impeller pump 38, and flowsfurther upwardly through the column pipe 4 until the water level reachesthe upper level 32 of the water table 34. Referring simultaneously toFIGS. 3 and 5, the water also flows from the bore 28 of the column pipe4 through the water inlet port 26, driving any trapped air within theexpansion space 22 upward through the upper air bleeding aperture 24 andinto the bore 28 of the column pipe 4. When the expansion space 22 iscompletely filled with water, the device 1 is ready for use.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 5, upon activation of the irrigation well'smotor 40, pressurized water is driven upwardly through the column pipestring 30 by the bladder of the impeller pump 38. Referringsimultaneously to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the pressurized water also flowsinto and expands the expansion space 22 causing the outer surface of theelastic tube 18 to expand outwardly and press against the inner surfaceof the casing 2; such pressure forming an occlusive seal between theelastic tube 18 and the casing 3. The establishment of an occlusive sealbetween the elastic tube 18 and the inner surface of the casing 2prevents the water level within the well from being drawn down, allowinga greater volume of water to be vacuumed by the pump 38 from the watertable 34.

[0039] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in theabove illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may makemodifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and components ofthe invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, itis intended that the description and drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention begiven a scope commensurate with the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A device, the device being insertable into a well, the wellhaving a casing, the device comprising: A) an elastic tube, the elastictube having an upper end, a lower end, an outer surface, and an innersurface; B) a pipe, the pipe having an upper end, a lower end, an outersurface, and an inner surface annularly surrounding a bore, the pipeextending through the elastic tube, the inner surface of the elastictube annularly surrounding an expansion space, the expansion spaceextending inwardly from the inner surface of the elastic tube to theouter surface of the pipe; C) tube attaching means capable of fixedlyattaching the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube to the outersurface of the pipe, the tube attaching means fixedly attaching theupper and lower ends of the elastic tube to the outer surface of thepipe; and D) fluid transfer means capable of carrying fluids from thebore of the pipe to the expansion space, the fluid transfer meansinterconnecting the expansion space and the bore of the pipe so that,upon the insertion of the device into the well, and upon introduction ofa pressurized fluid into the bore, the pressurized fluid may flow fromthe bore into the expansion space, expanding the expansion space, andcausing the outer surface of the elastic tube to extend radially outwardand into contact with the casing.
 2. The device of claim 2 wherein thefluid transfer means comprises a first aperture extending from the innersurface of the pipe to its outer surface, the first aperture beingpositioned so that fluids flowing outwardly therethrough may enter theexpansion space.
 3. The device of claim 3 wherein the fluid transfermeans further comprises a second aperture extending from the innersurface of the pipe to its outer surface, the second aperture beingpositioned so that fluids flowing outwardly therefrom may enter theexpansion space, the second aperture being further positioned below thefirst aperture.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the tube attachingmeans comprises an upper flange, a lower flange, an upper clamp ring, alower clamp ring, the upper and lower flanges extending radially outwardfrom and being fixedly attached to or homogeneously fused with the outersurface of the pipe, the upper and lower flanges each having an outerfacing tube clamping surface, the upper and lower clamp rings eachhaving an inner tube clamping surface, the upper and lower ends of theelastic tube being respectively positioned between the tube clampingsurfaces of the upper flange and clamp ring and the lower flange andclamp ring, the upper and lower clamp rings being respectively fixedlyattached to the upper and lower flanges so that the upper and lower endsof the elastic tube are respectively pressed between their tube clampingsurfaces.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein the tube attaching meanscomprises an upper flange, a lower flange, an upper clamp ring, a lowerclamp ring, the upper and lower flanges extending radially outward fromand being fixedly attached to or homogeneously fused with the outersurface of the pipe, the upper and lower flanges each having an outerfacing tube clamping surface, the upper and lower clamp rings eachhaving an inner tube clamping surface, the upper and lower ends of theelastic tube being respectively positioned between the tube clampingsurfaces of the upper flange and clamp ring and the lower flange andclamp ring, the upper and lower clamp rings being respectively fixedlyattached to the upper and lower flanges so that the upper and lower endsof the elastic tube are respectively pressed between their tube clampingsurfaces.
 6. The device of claim 4 wherein the upper clamp ring has aplurality of upper bolt extension apertures therethrough, wherein theupper flange has a plurality of upper spirally threaded aperturespositioned for registered alignment with the upper bolt extensionapertures, and further comprising a first plurality of spirally threadedbolts, such bolts extending through the upper bolt extension aperturesand such bolts being threadedly mounted within the upper spirallythreaded apertures.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein the upper clampring has a plurality of upper bolt extension apertures therethrough,wherein the upper flange has a plurality of upper spirally threadedapertures positioned for registered alignment with the upper boltextension apertures, and further comprising a first plurality ofspirally threaded bolts, such bolts extending through the upper boltextension apertures and such bolts being threadedly mounted within theupper spirally threaded apertures.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein theupper clamp ring has a plurality of upper bolt extension aperturestherethrough, wherein the lower flange has a plurality of lower spirallythreaded apertures positioned for registered alignment with the lowerbolt extension apertures, and further comprising a second plurality ofspirally threaded bolts, such bolts extending through the lower boltextension apertures and such bolts being threadedly mounted within thelower spirally threaded apertures.
 9. The device of claim 7 wherein theupper clamp ring has a plurality of lower bolt extension aperturestherethrough, wherein the lower flange has a plurality of lower spirallythreaded apertures positioned for registered alignment with the lowerbolt extension apertures, and further comprising a second plurality ofspirally threaded bolts, such bolts extending through the lower boltextension apertures and such bolts being threadedly mounted within thelower spirally threaded apertures.
 10. The device of claim 8 wherein theexpansion space has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the firstaperture is positioned at the upper end of the expansion space, andwherein the second aperture is positioned at the lower end of theexpansion space.
 11. The device of claim 9 wherein the expansion spacehas an upper end and a lower end, wherein the first aperture ispositioned at the upper end of the expansion space, and wherein thesecond aperture is positioned at the lower end of the expansion space.12. The device of claim 10 wherein the pipe comprises an irrigation wellcolumn pipe section.
 13. The device of claim 11 wherein the pipecomprises an irrigation well column pipe section.
 14. The device ofclaim 12 wherein the elastic tube comprises a material selected from thegroup of vulcanized rubber or synthetic rubber.
 15. The device of claim13 wherein the elastic tube comprises a material selected from the groupof vulcanized rubber or synthetic rubber.